Microsoft Corp. develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products and services for various computing devices. It offers operating systems for personal computers, servers, and intelligent devices; server applications for distributed computing environments; information worker productivity applications; business solutions applications; high-performance computing applications; software development tools and video games. It also designs and sells hardware, including the Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console and accessories, the Zune digital music and entertainment device and accessories, and Microsoft personal computer hardware products. Microsoft operates through five divisions: Windows & Windows Live, Server and Tools, Online Services, Microsoft Business, and Entertainment and Devices. The Windows & Windows Live division is engaged in the development and marketing of the Windows Operating System, Windows Live and Internet Explorer. The Server and Tools division develops and markets server software, software developer tools, services, and solutions that are designed to make information technology professionals and developers and their systems more productive and efficient and it also builds standalone and software development lifecycle tools for software architects, developers, testers, and project managers. The Online Services division consists of online information offerings such as Bing, MSN portals and channels, as well as an online advertising platform with offerings for both publishers and advertisers. The Microsoft Business division offerings consist of the Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Dynamics business solutions. The Microsoft Office system products are designed to increase personal, team, and organization productivity through a range of programs, services, and software solutions and the Microsoft Dynamics products provide business solutions for financial management, customer relationship management, supply chain management, and analytics applications for small and mid-size businesses, large organizations, and divisions of global enterprises. The Entertainment and Devices division is engaged in the development, production, and marketing of Xbox 360 platform, including the Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console and accessories, third-party games and games published under the brand Microsoft and Xbox LIVE services. The company was founded by William H. Gates III in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, WA.

Microsoft Fiscal Year 2014 Fourth Quarter Earnings Slides

Microsoft Fiscal Year 2014 Fourth Quarter Earnings Slides

Bill Gates on Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and Microsoft Surface

Ballmer highlights Windows phone, Windows 8, Xbox Kinect

Executives

Steve Ballmer,
CEO

Steve Ballmer is CEO of Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Wash. He joined Microsoft in 1980 and was the company’s first business manager. Before becoming CEO in 2000, his roles at Microsoft included senior vice president of sales and support, senior vice president of systems software and vice president of marketing.
Ballmer and the company's leaders focus on creating a family of devices and services for individuals and businesses that empower people around the globe at home, at work and on the go, for the activities they value most. Under his leadership, Microsoft has more than tripled revenue and doubled profits since 2000.
Ballmer was born in March 1956, and he grew up near Detroit where his father worked as a manager at Ford Motor Co. Ballmer earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Harvard University. He worked for two years at Procter & Gamble Co. as an assistant product manager and attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business before joining Microsoft.

Tony Bates,
Executive Vice President Business Development and Evangelism

Tony Bates is executive vice president of Microsoft’s Business Development and Evangelism group, responsible for the company's relationships with key OEMs, strategic innovation partners, independent software vendors and developers. He also leads Microsoft’s corporate strategy team.Before leading the Business Development and Evangelism group, Tony was the president of Microsoft’s Skype Division and the CEO of Skype prior to its acquisition in October of 2011. Before running Skype, Bates was senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's Enterprise, Commercial and Small Business Group as well as leader of its service provider and high-end router business units. Before Cisco, Bates spearheaded the backbone-engineering strategy for Internet MCI. He also served as a member of the board of YouTube and LoveFilm.Bates has more than 25 years of experience in the Internet and telecommunications industries, and he has published 12 IETF RFCs in the areas of Internet routing and operations. He also holds 10 patents in the area of Layer 2 and Layer 3 network innovations.Bates was born in the United Kingdom. He taught himself to code by reading programming manuals on the way to work and began his career as a network operator at the University of London. Bates is married and has four children.

Amy Hood,
CFO

As chief financial officer, Amy Hood is responsible for leading Microsoft's worldwide finance organization, including acquisitions, treasury activities, tax planning, accounting and reporting, and internal audit and investor relations.Prior to this role, Hood was chief financial officer of Microsoft’s Business Division, responsible for the company's productivity applications and services including Microsoft Office 365, Office, SharePoint, Exchange, Dynamics ERP and Dynamics CRM. During her time in the Business Division, Hood helped lead the transition to the company’s Office 365 service, and she was deeply involved in the strategy development and overall execution of the company’s successful acquisitions of Skype and Yammer.Hood joined Microsoft in 2002 and previously held positions in the Server and Tools Business as well as the corporate finance organization. Prior to 2002, she worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. in various investment banking and capital markets groups roles.Hood earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University. Hood lives in Seattle with her husband and daughters.

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